JENNIFER LANG EV BISHOP Where | am INCE 1 CHATTED about a summer course-related epiphany in my last column, some of you know that I’ve S -been taking courses at the Cannery in Prince Rupert. There is something about the combination of salt air, pounding waves and the Cannery’s antique structures and history that lends to ex- ploring thoughts. I was interested by how my writing proces- ses, even thinking processes changed slightly under the influence of such a different environ- ment. , This power of place on my thoughts and writing made me wonder whether it altered my - perceptions about life and interactions with others as well? Then I wondered, how much of what I think of as “me” is shaped by the place I live? This question gained momentum throughout my time away, One afternoon, sitting on the sun deck of the Salmon House Restaurant, I read a class- mate’s creative non-fiction piece. I smiled at her words about her childhood playmates and her descriptions of the land- scape. I was delighted by her details of the yards that made up her world. I was incensed and intrigued by the juxtaposition of a light hearted, fun-filled childhood and the strange understory of racial tension, bigotry and clash- © ing economic classes that came through clear- ly in the nuances of adult conversation and , whispers that the story child never fully under- stood but internalized and was deeply affected by. As Ivread, I ‘identified: in- such ‘a’ personal - way that it was almost embarrassing. “We definitely would’ve been friends!” I exclaimed at one point. “I feel like you’re de-' scribing MY chiidhood, my friends, the places I played!” I felt like 1 was gushing and the writer, probably a little freaked out by my enthu- siasm, (I can go a bit over the top in case any of you haven't picked up on that yet.) sought i reassurance and asked, “So you’re sure I’m capturing a feeling of childhood?” “Absolutely!” I yodelled. “Mine! I’m not, sure if that was exactly what she was aiming at but she seemed content. At the story’s end, F burst out once more. “I know F'm running the risk of sounding insin- cere with all my praise but honestly, [ feel like you are literally describing my early childhood experiences on Railway Ave.” Al the word Railway, the writer's jaw drop- ped. “Where did you grow up?” she asked. “Smithers,” [I said. “Well, actually, 1 was only there until I was five...” She cut me off. “That's where I grew up. I don’t believe it!” Neither did I. I'd had no idea she was from Smithers originally. I just knew she was a Prof from UNBC, taking a course (I think for the fun of it?) and I assumed, since she'd gone to UBC and worked at various campuses in the Lower Mainland that she was a city person. How her piece resonated with me as being “home” even though she had never identified its geography struck me as weird and very cool at the same time and made me very conscious _ of a few things. Where and how I was raised is deeply in- grained in me. Places are like people, they have personalities, bents. It’s very hard to spend a large amount of time in a place with- out taking on some of its essence as your own or, conversely, evaluating it and rejecting what it represents. Either way, something in the location forms you. My identifying with people in stories isn't new, I often identify with characters in novels and with non-fiction essays that are removed my physical reality but that [ connect with in their emotional truths. At one point I might have argued that’s the foremost way for a wri- ter to connect to a reader but now I'm faced with the fact that physical landscapes them- selves, without metaphor or simile, have a huge ability to shape thoughts, evoke ideas and create connections. : I can look over my past with a discerning eye, trying to evaluate it, learn from it, grow” out of it, heal from it, celebrate it, you name _ it, but I can't escape it. For a long time 1 didn't want that to be true, I wished ] could escape location, be free of heredity, of roots, of anything that I felt dicta- ted a certain way for me to be. Now I’m com- ing to see that I never can. Ail that I’ve exper- ienced, good or bad, embraced or buried in a closet, makes me who I am. Every place I’ve been and everyone I’ve known has brought me to where I am now. I wonder where I'll be next? TERRACE STANDARD The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - BI What’s the news? Terrace’s historical society looks back on 75 years of local newspaper stories By JENNIFER LANG FLIP THROUGH 75 years of his- tory as seen through back issues of your local paper, and you'll discover all kinds of great stories — big and small. A new book released by the Terrace Regional Historical Soc- iety shows community news sometimes took on a much folks- ier flavour back in the town’s early days, when a Tuesday visit from Miss Gardener of Pacific was noteworthy enough to rate a mention in the Jan. 25, 1928 edi- tion of the Omenica Herald. That’s just one of the stories the society included in a new commemorative book called Ter- race: 75 Years of Growth. The self-published booklet is mix of actual newsclippings and ads from days gone by and current headings and anecdotes written many years after the fact. The book includes at least one major story for every year since Terrace's incorporation on Dec. 31, 1927. Big stories included the de- vastating 1936 flood, when rising waters tore houses from Braun’s Island, ripped up railway tracks and submerged the towns of Kit- wanga and Usk, where houses had to be tied to trees so. they wouldn’t float away. , Another highlight was Queen Elizabeth Ii’s visit on July 18, 1959, Ten thousand residents lined local streets as the Queen and Prince Philip were escorted from the airport to downtown. An unnamed correspondent wrote how many people “were -very.concerned with the look of A BLACK AND white photograph of George Little's sawmill in 1927 is printed on the cover of the Terrace Regional Historical Society's latest effort, a book of newsclippings for the past 75 years.. weariness which clouded the Queen’s pretty face.” When it was later revealed that the monarch’s medical advisors time and energy.” Other landmark events include the launch of radio station CFTK, which went on the air in 1960, “Many were very concerned with the loak of weariness which clouded the Queen’s pretty face.” had prescribed a day of rest when she arrived in Whitehorse, “Many followed by the opening of the Terrace and District Hospital — now known as Mills Memorial — Local business leaders had their day on the front page, too. In 1965, Ray Skoglund announced $500,000 in expansion plans for — his hot ‘spring resort at Lakelse Lake. Traffic accidents have’ long been a staple of comniunity news reporting, They just didn’t always involve automobiles. One story from 1928 invovles a team of horses owned by Terrace founder and sawmill owner George felt a keen feeling of guilt for the demands put upon them. for their in 1961. _ Continued on Page B3 CINDY HANSEN, right, guided the first-ever ‘walking t tour of downtown. Walking through Terrace’s history Guide invites you to explore 14 stops on foot By JESSIE GIES TWO THOUSAND copies of an 18-page tourism guide published by the Terrace Tourism Suciety have been printed and as many as 450 are currently in circulation. The pamphlet, created by designer Cindy Hansen, is called My Town: A Walk With the Founder of The first official walking tour hap- pened over the Riverboat Days and cost the 15 participants $20 each. Included in the price was a T-shirt with an image of George Litile on it, a walk- ing tour booklet, and a continental break- fast courtesy of Don Diego's, the starting part of the tour. Terrace. The pamphlet takes readers on a historical journey through 14 points of interest in Terrace and in- cludes a map and photo- graphs. The corner of Kalum St. and Lakelse Ave., the sec- ond stop of the walking tour, was originally Royal Bank property and is now a clothing shop called Shi. The pamphlet tells the story of a famous fatality- causing robbery that oc- curred there in the late 1950s, Another stop of the tour is the Legion building on Legion Ave. The pamphlet says the spot housed thou- sands of Canadian troops during the Sec- ond World: War who were stationed in Terrace in case the Japanese attacked the . horth coast. Krystal Piper “It was really great,” said Krystal Piper of the Terrace Tourism Society. She said pamphlet creator Cindy Hansen was there to guide the tour and partici- pants were very receptive. The tourism society also sold at least 50 pamphlets during a two-day kiosk sale at Concerts in the Park over Riverboat Days. “People are incredibly im- pressed with pamphlet),” Piper said. The tourism pamphlets are available at the tourism in- formation centre on Keith Ave. and are priced at $3 per copy. George Little T-shirts are also available for $18. Both also be available at. Misty River Books, Van's News and other’ vendors in town, ; (the: Around Town Martian visitor STARGAZERS WILL have an historic opportunity to see Mars closer than ever this week, The Red Planet is just 34.6 millian miles from Earth, the nearest it's been to Earth’s orbit since prehistoric times, or about 60,000 years. That's noticeably closer than when the two pla- nets normally line up in their orbits around the sun, which is about every lwo years. The planet is expected to rise above the eastern horizon after 9 p.m. in this time zone. The fourth rock in from the sun is one of the brightest celestial objects in the night-time sky, making it relatively simple to locate with. the. naked eye, even to city dwellers. , It’s rated a magnitude of 2.6 on the astromonical scale; only Venus is brighter, apart from the moon. To the unaided eye, Mars will appear like a steady, orange light that’s brighter than any star in the sky. Binoculars will help you see better, Performers needed HAVE YOU have ever wanted to perform at a local coffee house? Now is your chance, The Terrace and District Arts Council is seeking a variety of performers for upcoming coffee house evens. If you are a poet, writer, actor, musician or singer looking for the opportunity lo showcase your talent in a casual and supportive atmosphere, call Kim at 638-0131. Open to all ages and styles of performance. Wood clearers THE GROUP of workers that cleared trees from a Thornhill Bench property to make way for the re- ae gional district's new park was from the Terrace oa Nisga'a Society, The society also provided wooden 7 fence posts for Penner Street park, using wood cleared from the lot (“A new neighbourhood park is taking shape in Thornhill, Terrace Standard, Aug. 20, page BI). The regional district expects the new playground equipment to arrive for installation Sept. 2. ag? Ys Forest friendly NATHAN ARCHER, 4, joined a scavanger hunt during the Family Place’s Rainforest Ramble.